Old Composer Reacts to Assassin's Creed 2 OST Jesper Kyd Ezio's Family 

Hi, I'm a promoter of Assassins Creed. First of all, thanks for reacting to this amazing track and giving it even more visibility. Well the theme of Ezio Family. This topic has two sides, the community side and the game side. This theme is really a discarded and modified version of what was going to be the first theme of the intro of the game. Jesper Kyd its composer had an old mashup between two themes and from there he ended up making the Ezio family that would later reach the public. The ezio family is the musical theme that sounds at the points of further evolution of the protagonist of Assassins Creed II. Thus creating more epicity in the environment. Over time this theme would be the most representative of Assassins Creed II in the community. Creating remixes and versions of all kinds. Ubisoft knew this and in 2013 decided to use the Ezio theme and create a superior version of it that would be called and considered the theme of the entire franchise. (Something like a similar to the march of the empire in Star Wars) With this Ubisoft would give for each new Assassins Creed game a new approach to the 'Ezio Family' (better called Main Theme) if the game takes place in Egypt they give the Main Theme melodies that remind you of the Ezio Family but with instruments and notes from Egypt . If it happens in Greece the same. If it happens in the time of the Nordics the same. You basically have more than 11 different ''Ezio Family'' Main Themes to react to.

Federico Auditore:"It is a good life we lead, brother" Ezio Auditore:"The best!May it never Change..."

To me Jesper Kyd is the Hans Zimmer of video game music. His work in the early Hitman games is unbelievable too

Even as almost a 30-year-old grown ass man, this song still pulls a tear out of my eye. Games used to strike different back in those days.

2:20 the moment that the singer's voice starts is the moment chills go down my spine. So much nostalgia, hours of life and good memories brought back with a single song.

Ezio’s family song is very nostalgic. Can we all agree?

This song became the theme of Assassin’s Creed, it encapsulates the beauty and tragedy engrained in our lives. “It is a good life we lead brother” “The best, may it never change” “And may it never change us”

When Ezio's name is pronounced it is with a short e, like in the word egg. Ezio is the main character who is born in Italy. The theme is haunting to me because Ezio's father, older brother and younger brother are hanged for false crimes at the beginning which leads him to learning he is from a long line of Assassins who have battled the Templars for centuries.

Ezios family is an absolute masterpiece

One of the reasons for the distorted guitar is that the AC franchise tells a story that takes place both in the past *and* in the modern day. It's sort of a blend of historical fantasy with modern sci-fi. The classical instruments represent the ancestors and mystery of the past, while the electronic synths and guitars represent the legacy and struggle in the present.

Just a little bit of information for you about this track. Ezio's Family is iconic by itself, not because pure nostalgia kicking in but it identifies Assassin's Creed franchise as a whole. At the time it was released, the track were only meant for Ezio and the vengeance for his family, but as the franchise progresses, the word "family" represent not only those whose bound by his blood, but ultimately his fellow Assassin's brotherhood, his true family in the end. Ubisoft started to recognize how nostalgic this theme is and they let the composer of AC Rogue (the 7th major installment of the franchise) composed another variation of Ezio's Family as the theme for the game. It was amazing, the responses were all positives, and this sparks another variants of Ezio's Family in every single Assassin's Creed games forward. I really recommend you to listen to every single variants of Ezio's Family in the entire Assassin's Creed franchise, here's the list: • Assassin's Creed 2 - Venice Rooftops | (upbeat version of Ezio's Family) • Assassin's Creed Rogue - Main Theme | (a little more upbeat with "sea" or "pirate" vibes) • Assassin's Creed Unity - Unity (Main Theme) | (darker version, set the tones for French Revolution pretty good) • Assassin's Creed Syndicate - Family | (this got Austin Wintory written all over it, strings instruments played individually is his forte) • Assassin's Creed Origins - Ezio's Family - Origins Version | (Sarah Schachner's take on the theme, she is known for her Moog synthesizer) • Assassin's Creed Odyssey - Assassin's Creed | (Greek vibes!) • Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Ezio's Family - Ascending to Valhalla | (I couldn't believe they even got the legendary Einar Selvik to do the choir, this is also the first variant of EF to have a male voice as the main choir lead) and additional thing that also features EF: • Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary - Hunting Shadows | (this is not a game, but this track was made to celebrate the 15th anniversary of AC franchise, also featuring a pop culture artist, Aurora) • Assassin's Creed Mirage - unknown | (the game has not been released yet, but we got a snippet of the theme in the trailer, it also features male choirs)

Jesper Kyd is the GOAT. Hands down one of the best composers in the gaming industry today.

“Like ripping open an old wound” is the perfect way to describe it. Ezio has his father and brother executed in front of him early on on his life by a corrupt priest/noble. A lot of his characterization and push for his story is wanting to avenge them, and this main theme perfectly symbolizes that as he goes through his journey.

20-30 years from now, gamers who played this game will hear this song and the nostalgia will wash over them. Fond memories from days long past. The same happens to me when I hear music from Chrono Trigger.

The fact this was made for the 2nd game and then became the theme for every game afterwards is what I think is so cool about this song, and really drives the impact of Ezio’s story!

This song never gets old and never seize to make me cry every time I hear it , my God , a masterpiece

today, this song makes me cry. AC2 and AC Brotherhood (part two of the story of Ezio). The joy these two games gave me is beyond words.

“- It is a good life we live, brother - The best… May it never change - And may it never change us”

Jesper doing an amazing job capturing the essence of AC 2 story. "Wonderful tune, but haunting and heavy" is exactly what happens in the story of Ezio in Assassins Creed. While the settings is really beautiful, in Renaissance Italy, the people, thoigh, especially templar and assassins had been killing each other all the time and It affect peoples life, even the innocence like Ezio's little brother. Half of the character's family are hanged: father, brother, little brother

This song plays when you finish the tutorial. You are on top of a rooftop in Florence at Nighttime, gazing over the city as the camera pans above and the title appears on the screen. Essentially, hearing this for me for the first time told me my adventure would be full of wonder, and there was sadness incoming

It's that change from the high pitched voice to the violin at 2:35 that always gets me. The Assassin's creed theme from Revelations is also good

Since 2009 I still have goosebumps when listening to Ezio's Family

One of the greatest songs in a video game by far. “It is a good life we lead, brother.” “The best, may it never change.” A legend was born.

The interesting thing about the song is that in recent entries is that it has turned into the de facto Assassin’s Creed theme song, so they remix it with instruments from the setting/ time period the game is set in. They’re each unique in their own right this way and it would be worth listening to to spot differences each version has.

"Welcome to Kostantiniyye" is from the same composer, Jesper Kyd and it's pretty heavenly too 😇

“To say that nothing is true, is to realize that the foundations of society are fragile, and that we must be the shepherds of our own civilization. To say that everything is permitted, is to understand that we are the architects of our actions, and that we must live with their consequences, whether glorious or tragic" So glad he took my recommendation!🤘🏼

this song gives me chills every time i hear it

This song transports me back to being in middle school with my hoodie on playing this on the bus, just dreaming about being home to play this game and go back in time to the rooftops of Venice.

This one's goes really hard. Hits in the right spot. Literally crying every time

This is basically from the very iconic intro scene of the game on the rooftops of beautiful Firenze (a city in Italy). "Its a good life we lead. May it never change. And may it never change us!" This songs always reminds me of my childhood and makes me very emotional, good times! (the game is 13 years old)

This is arguably one of, if not the most iconic video game song of its time. Anyone who was playing a lot of video games in the 2010's knows this melody.

This song gets me every time. the narrative weight that this song carries is tough.

The electronic music that sneaks in and out of the more orchestral music of this soundtrack is a reminder of the situation the player is in. You're in a machine called an Animus, that allows you to relive the memories of an ancestor.

It's a Good life we lead brother , The best . May it never change , May it never change us 💕

Ezio's Family is a great song by itself. But paired with the incredible story of Assassin's Creed II it carries with it a very strong emotional attachment. My favorite video game soundtrack is either Assassin's Creed II OR Halo 3: ODST.

So nostalgic

Spoilers! Will explain why the music is important. This theme is that main theme of AC2 and the Ezio Trilogy, it is first played at the intro title screen on 2 when Ezio is talking to his brother about their lives never changing, before Ezio's life changes dramatically. His brothers and father are killed by a friend who betray them. Ezio is 17 at the time. Beautifully haunting is exactly what it is edit for more context, the first Assassin's Creed game with Ezio(2) is when he is 17 till his late thirties, the second Ezio game is in his 40s and the final Ezio game is in his 50s, this song is played throughout them all and used throughout the series as a mix element to other themes. A sample, if you will

The amount of nostalgia cannot be measured, all of my body is tingling every time I hear this piece because it's tied to the series and that YA times that passed...

Strength.. Revenge.. Love... Sadness.. Anger.. Ambition.. All of these make that theme♥️

He was a nobleman in Renaissance Italy. His father and brothers were executed at the gallows for crimes they didn't commit, and he vowed to become an assassin to kill every last member of that conspiracy that killed them. His name was Ezio Auditore da Firenze. The trilogy of Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and Assassin's Creed Revelations tell his story over several decades. This song foreshadows and commemorates the death of his father and brothers. When you say it's haunting... there's a reason.

Out of all your videos I've watched, it's crazy to see that you grasp the idea of the story the composer is telling from the game. Shows how great music is in parallel to the games and the importance of it.

I just found your channel. Really nice Video. You should definetly react to the Mass Effect 2 OST "Suicide Mission". One of the Best Video Game OST of all time in my opinion.

I'm 40 years old and many years passed since i played this game and listened to this masterpiece. Still send shivers down my spine

I always get goose pimples when I listen to Ezio Family, it's very good, I don't know, it gives me some good feelings, hugs from Brazil

This theme doesn't play in any particular scene, but is like a constant throughout the whole of Ezio's trilogy. But what I like about this track is that as time progressed, "Ezio's Family" wasn't just his direct family anymore, Ezio's "Family" is the whole creed, the Assassins. The entire Brotherhood is his family, and this track has now kind of become the theme of the entire Assassins. Also btw, 'Ezio' is pronounced 'Ett-zio', tongue touching the upper cheek. Also listen to Unity's main theme, it is a version of Ezio's Family, and it is actually really good, and a perfect track for a game set in the French Revolution.

This song played when Ezio and his oldest brother were having a conversation on top of the church overlooking Firenźe. Federico says him and his family have a “good life.” “And may this good life never change us.” His last words before the event that forced Ezio to change.

“It is a good life we lead brother” “The best” “May it never change” “And may it never change us” ❄️❄️

Goosebumps. Every time I hear this

I love these! If you were to ever get the chance to, I highly recommend any and all of the tracks of the game Journey. Although the music is fit around what’s happening during a playthrough, they’re all beautiful. My personal favorites are The Road of Trials and Apotheosis. Great vids can’t wait to see more!

That "oooo" always get me the goosebumps. This is not only thr best song in games but best song ever made. This song is enough to remind me of all the memories of Ezio , the amazing game . I dont have words to describe how amazing this song is to me .

I had never thought about the underlying bass arpeggio that doesn't change throughout the piece. I could be reading too much into this, but Ezio's journey, regardless of whatever happened along the way, was very much a revenge story at it's core. His journey begins when he was completely driven by revenge, which is probably why the arpeggio was in the higher register in the beginning. It's a big part of the song and life. As his story progresses, it's not too big but most of his actions are still driven by a sense of personal motivation which is why the main vocals and instruments take over with the arpeggio still going on in the lower register. Towards the end, the same arpeggio begins to take a more fuller shape with violins and guitars which is also how Ezio towards the final games (Revelations) understands that revenge and love are just two sides of the same coin. Only after he shapes his revenge to love for his family and brotherhood that he truly becomes the Mentor of the Assassins and becomes a legend that both us as outside fan of the games and the in-game universe remembers.

Oh my god your really good at deciphering this for someone who hasn’t played the game

As soon as the song started I got goosebumps :)

The moment you started playing the song it chills me to my spine! I smiled immediately

Best Assassin's creed Story of all time with our favourite Assassin getting things done and seeing him grow old and wise.

In Assassin's Creed, there's a modern device that allows people to relive and experience the memories of their ancestors. Most of the game takes place in these historic settings, but it really is actually in modern time. I feel like the guitar almost reminds you of how the two eras mesh in the game since it contrasts the more classical sounds.

Chills… forever beautiful

Not the reaction I was expecting, but the one I needed. This song (and game) have incredible meaning to me. Thank you.

Ein wunderschönes Lied geschaffen für die wohl tragischste Reise die ich je in einem Videospiel angetreten bin. Wir haben Ezios gesamtes Leben miterlebt und dieses Stück war der Auftakt von allem

I am not a gamer my kids are … and they introduced me to this peace of art and every time I listen to this it bring tears in my eyes …simply beautiful

When that solo violin hits. You can see it on his face and, "wow."

This song literally brings me so much emotion, this game was my childhood!

God the representation of this song is just incredible. It ended up meaning so much to the whole franchise. The amount of emotions you feel when listening to Ezios family is just crazy. It’s just indescribable.

I would love to see some polls on this channel too! I’m a huge fan of both your channels and the biggest issue I usually have is there’s way too many tracks to suggest, dropping a poll every once in a while would be a great way for me to feel like I can contribute 😂👍🏼 Also you mentioned not having reference for how these tracks are used in game. I know it’s not really your current style of breakdown and decomposition, but I know I would love to see you revisit some tracks and see how they are utilized in games to see if it alters your perception about them at all. Love your work!

The lore behind it is a prominent family in italy during the renassiance gets killed except for the main protagonist, and he joins an ancient secret order of assassins to track down those responsible and fulfill a lifelong journey of revenge.

It was incredibly rejuvenating seeing an experienced composer give flowers to an iconic masterpiece in gaming. A lot of people overlook works of art if their in a video game and end up missing out but not you. Also your analogy of a section of the piece being like peeling off the bandage of an old wound was absolutely brilliant. Not only did I enjoy you experiencing this for the first time but I also learned more about a favorite song of mine. Thank you.

This Marries Modern day with Renaissance Italy, the two settings for this game. It’s just Wonderful.

Some of these compositions sound like something from Lord of the rings or Harry Potter or something like that where it's a real life orchestra orchestrating and composing something of magnitude. Full string section paired with a big grass section and the woodwinds everything else it just seems like there's so much here. I don't know if this was actually composed by an orchestra or something like that but it sounds awesome

Assassin's Creed was the first video game series(series all together) that got me invested in the story, character, and music. AC 1 and The ezio trilogy being AC 2, brotherhood, revaluations was the first time a game made me cry and feel emotion for the game, characters, music. People think videogames are just dumb wastes of time shooting and looting. But to me videogames can become an art form. A rich engaging story housing some of the most moving and beautiful music I've ever heard

I got this in my recommended cause I love Assassin's Creed music, and I was not disappointed.

I always get goosebumps uncontrollably throughout the song. The sense of nostalgia when listening to this is unbelievable, not the kind of "me playing the game", it's weird but I feel nostalgia as if I was Ezio reminiscing about his life. Absolutely wonderful song

Jesper Kyd, the GOAT! Been making amazing video game music since before the 16-bit era. His Assassin’s Creed work is insanely good, I’m a big fan of The Brotherhood Escapes, that’s a composition that is made to get you hype.

Literal Chills Every Time I Hear It..

this piece to me represents family the haunting feel of it plus the beauty is just phenomenal ive many fond memories of playing the game and listing to it in my on its own this music has inspierd and captured the hearts of many people

This song always makes me cry. It's so beautiful but represents a character who has been through absolute anguish. It's a game but I'm very indebted to this character for helping me through dark times. The Christina missions in Brotherhood brought back the feelings and there'll never be an Assassin like him again.

Never has a song with no lyrics made me cry so hard….requiescat in pace ezio auditore….you’ve earned your paradise ✨🙏🏻 this song played over ezio finally getting his hidden blade and assassins outfit after his family was arrested (and later killed)….this song represents change, purpose , and the brotherhood❤️

Man, I just cried, thae haunting tune with the whole Ezio situation... T.T I'm gonna go and replay it now. P.S. The moment Ezio's family starts to play and the camera pans out on the Florence- I fell in love with the game right then and there.

I was 15 when I played the game with my cousin... I'm 26 now so many memories..... A good life indeed

Assassins Creed is my favorite franchise ever, so i love this. would love to see more of the AC pieces, some of the games have some wonderful songs. Also maybe check out the music from Doom 2016 or Doom Eternal

It was very interesting to get your unbiased opinion and response since you don’t know about the franchise or the context of the song. Im glad you enjoyed the song. Thedas Love Theme from Dragon Age: Inquisition has these beautiful vibes and vocal as well.

Jesper Kyd is one of my fav composers in the industry. I love him just for the work on the first four Hitman games (with Blood Money OST being stellar), and he's done so much more. Ezio's Family music was an instant classic. Still very moving and fresh years after its debut. Thanks!

Aunque su cara estaba seria, se que su alma por dentro estaba en paz al escuchar esta obra maestra

Ezio Auditore da Firenze. First time I heard it I never forgot it. I've only heard his full name like 2 maybe 3 times since AC2. It just got stuck in my brain like a tatoo. I love the idea of doing game and anime OSD's, hopefully there be something from The Witcher 3 in the future. That was the first game funny enough even if I had played AC for years prior that I noticed and realized the impact and importance of in game music. Maybe because I spend so much time exploring and taking in the scenery for once, and with little to no engagements/interuptions happened as I started to pay attention to the soundtrack more and was blown away. Then the fact that it changed depending on the area, if enemies was near, when engaging in a fight etc. And when Priscilla performed "Priscilla's song" on the lute I just put down my controller and enjoyed it :)

Man I was Getting Goosebumps Each Time the Vocal Notes was Getting Higher... Reminds Me of Good ol' Times.

That arpeggio in the background that sometimes is guitar, and sometimes piano and is a constant D-minor chord over and over again all throughout the soundtrack.

The scene its in shows two young men whose lives will never be the same. Two brothers, one will die, the other must live for revenge and duty.

After all these years, this piece still hit me harder than it should. This is really one of the saddest stuff I've heard.

Jesper Kyd one of the best video games composers. His Assassin's Creed's works it's amazing. But he also have such a great Hitman's soundtracks. You need a check out sometimes maybe a Hitman Contracts - main theme.

I would love for this to be played at my funeral

When I played ac2 as a 14 year old I felt like I knew him. Then when I finished the game I felt like I lost a brother. Great story.

As someone who could never really make it musically, I often times find enjoyment in watching composers talk about music and discussing all the pieces that make these songs. Just discovered your channel for the first time and I absolutely love your enthusiasm talking about this stuff. Instant sub!

This song still gives me goosebumbs to this day. what a game.

This is the main theme throughout but it’s first introduced at the big title drop after the intro. It punctuates two brothers enjoying their young lives, hoping “May it never change, and may it never change us.”

As soon as I heard him mispronounce "Ezio", I knew I was in for a genuine first time reaction

I'm an avid appreciator of video games OSTs and this series of reactions just earned my subscription. It's awesome!

"It is a good life we live brother's." "May it never change" "And may it never change us"

the youtube violinist taylor davis did a violin cover of this track 10 years ago before she decided to make a career of herself as a violinist / composer. it is her cover that really got me into this track even though i beat this game. the game is amazing too. you become friends with leonardo divinci in the game and he makes you a hangglider. game is set in rome/florence.

Ох, Боже, нет слов описать эту музыку...

Ezio's family started out as a track made for ezio only, but then it became the iconic song of the franchise because of his works that brought back the brotherhood of the assassins to its former glory, which became kinda his family too

Jesper Kyd is a genius and I'm so happy to see your reaction for this amazing OST, I hope you love it even more as we gamers did back then